Control system



Now-24, .1942. J, gA-fbu 2,303,112 v comm sYsmBu I Filed Aug. 23, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I v II II Inventor-2 His Attorney.

J. EATON common. sYsgi'u Filed-Aug 2a, 1941 v a ulm/l I r v lnvenoovz I John Eaton 10976 04476 M M His Attqrneg.

' of known bobbin winds.

Patented Nov. 24, 1942 CONTROL SYSTEM John Eaton, Schenectady, N. Y., assignor to General Electric York Company, a corporation of New Application August 23, ,941, Serial No..408,130

7 Claims.

reciprocating the ring rail in such a manner as to buildthe bobbin according to one of a number is usually built in the frame at one end thereof which is referred to as the head end. For reasons pertaining to the manufacture, operation, and convenience for repair of spinning frames, the driving motor is usually mounted at the opposite or foot end of the frame. Heretofore, in variable speed spinning frames, it has been found This builder mechanism necessary to mount the controller or device for varying the speed of the motor at the head end of the frame to provide for its actuation by the builder mechanism with a minimum installation expenditure.

A moder spinning frame may be forty feet or more in length. Thus, with the rheostat mounted at one end of the frame and the motor at the other, a cable containing three large size copper conductors extending the full length of the frame has been required to connect the rheostat with the slip rings of the motor. The cost of 40 feet of heavy copper multiple conductor cable multiplied by the number of new spinning frames sold and old spinning frames modernized in a year is a very substantial amount of money. The elimination of these long lengths of expensive cable therefore results in a very substantial saving. Furthermore, if the motor and rheostat were mounted at the same end of the frame, the v saving in cable cost would be enhanced by further savings in installation costs, since the rheostat could be wired to the motor in the factory, and factory assembly on a production basis is more eflicient and less expensive than similar work performed separately on each installation in the field.

Accordingly, a further object of this invention is the provision of suitable means for actuating the speed control device in response to movement derived from the movement of the ring rail or its actuating member at the foot end of the frame so that the speed controlling device can be motor, with consequent elimination of expensive cable extending the full length of the frame.

More specifically the invention relates to spinning frames in which the yarn is wound on the bobbin in a combination of warp wind and filling wind. In combination windoperation the first layers of yarn on the bobbin are applied from the base of the bobbin to about two thirds of the distance from the bottom to the top, and thereafter each successive layer begins at a higher point above the base and also rises higher than thepreceding layer at the top. In other words, the ring rail is reciprocated with constant amplitude between upwardly progressing limits so that a taper is formed at the lower end of the bobbin and a similar taper is wound by overlapping each successive layer over the end of the preceding layer at the top. In order to maintain constant tension in the yarn, the speed must be proportional to the diameter. Therefore, since the end of the upper taper is always wound at bare spool diameter, the speed must decrease to the same minimum each time the ring rail is at the top of its travel and must increase to a higher speed when the straight portion of the bobbin is being wound, and this high speed must be progressively is the provision of suitable means connected to the ring rail or its actuating member at the foot end of the frame for actuating the motor speed controller to vary the speed of the motor between a fixed minimum value and a higher value that increases progressively with the progression of the ring rail.

In carrying the invention into effect in one form thereof, a speed control device such as a variable rheostat is mounted at the foot end, of the spinning frame with the driving motor, and mechanical connections are provided between the ring rail actuating mechanism at the foot end of the frame and the speed controlling device for varying the speed of the motor in accordance with the progression of the ring rail.

In illustrating the invention in one form thereof, it is shown as applied to a ring spinning machine driven by a wound rotor induction motor provided with a rheostat in its secondary circuit for varying its speed.

For a better and more complete understanding of the invention, reference should now be had to the following specification and to the accommounted at the same end of the framewith the 5 panying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a simple, (119 grammatic representation of the invention in perspective, Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view in section of a combination wound bobbin, and Figs. 3 to 14, inclusive, are diagrammatic views illustrating the positions and movements of parts of the speed controller for corresponding positions of the ring rail for varying degrees of fullness of the bobbin.

Referring now to the drawings, only the essential parts of the spinning machine directly cooperating with the speed varying means are shown. In the machine illustrated, the spindle I is fixed in position, while the ring rail H is oscillated axially of the spindle as the winding operation proceeds. As far as is known, all present-day commercial spinning'frames have this arrangement of spindle and ring rail, but obviously this arrangement might be reversed with the ring rail stationary and the spindle given a corresponding movement. Consequently, any reference in this specification or in the annexed claims to movement of the ring rail is to be understood as a relative movement of the ring rail and spindle.

For the purpose of simplifying the drawings, the ring rail is shown as being operated in a conventional manner by means of a lever I2 mounted on a cross shaft l3. One end of the lever i2 is connected to the lower end of a lifter rod l4, the upper end of which is secured to the ring rail. The cross shaft i3 carries a weight |3a which tends to rotate the cross shaft in a direction toraise the ring rail, and the lever I2 is moved against the force of the weight by means of a member 15 which extends lengthwise of the spinning machine. This member is usually referred to as the'wave shaft. One end of the wave shaft 15 is connected to one end of a chain It which passes over a pulley H to the take-up reel iii of a builder mechanism which is illustrated generally by the reference character Hi. This builder mechanism is of a well-known commercial type and comprises a builder lever 23 pivoted at 2! which is arranged to be engaged by a builder cam 22.

The spindle l0 and the builder are both driven by suitable driving means illustrated as an alternating current induction motor 23 of the wound rotor type. As illustrated, the motor 23 is mounted at the foot end of the machine which is the opposite end from that at which the builder mechanism is located. The motor drives a large cylinder 24 through a belt connection 25, and the spindles H) are driven from the drive cylinder 24 by means of tapes (not shown). The builder cam at the head end of the machine is driven from the cylinder 24 by means of gearing in the end casing 26.

In order to provide for the necessary progression of the ring rail to wind combination wind, means are provided for increasing the effective length of chain 16. This is accomplished by mounting the take-up reel l8 on a gear 2'1 which is driven by a worm 28. This worm is mounted on a worm shaft 29 which is rotatably journaled in bearings on the building lever 23 and provided with a ratchet wheel 30 arranged to cooperate with a pawl to advance the gear wheel 21 one step each time that the builder lever 23 is oscillated about its pivot 2!. Thus, it is seen that the builder lever constitutes an element of the machine which oscillates in accordance with the relative oscillatory movement between the ring rail and the spindle, and that the take-up reel l8 carried by gear 2'! which is rotated one step each time that a forward and return layer is wound on the spindle constitutes an element of the machine which is progressively movable in accordance with the increasing diameter of the bobbin. Consequently, the wave shaft i5 which is mounted for longitudinal movement, reciprocates once for each rotation of the builder cam, and effects a raising and lowering of the ring rail for each reciprocation.

The principal function of the builder take-up mechanism is to increase the effective length of the chain l6 each time that the building lever 20 oscillates thereby progressively to change the limits of relative oscillatory movement without changing the amplitude of this movement.

The speed of motor 23 is controlled by means of a rheostat having resistors 32a, 32b and 32 connected in the secondary circuit of the motor together with a rotatable contact member 33 having three arms for varying the resistors. A spring 34 serves to bias the contact member 33 to the low speed position in which the entire amount of resistance of each of the resistors 32a, 32b and 32 is inserted in the secondary circuit and is adapted to be operated from that position in a clockwise direction as viewed in the drawings by means of a chain 35, one end of which is secured to a drum 36 and the other end of which is secured to the free end of a crank arm 31 pivoted at 3 42, to a radial arm 32 which is mounted on a stub shaft 39 for rotation therewith. The shaft 39 is connected through gearing 40 and a crank mechanism 4i to the wave shaft I5. The crank mechanism 4| has a circular reciprocating motion through a relatively small portion of a circle for each reciprocation of wave shaft I5. The ratio of gearing 4D is so chosen that the radial arm 38 will be rotated forward and backward through a suitable angle, e. g., approximately 260 degrees for each complete reciprocation of the wave shaft and thus for each complete relative oscillation of the ring rail and spindle.

The drum 36 is secured to a hollow shaft 42 i which surrounds the shaft 43 to which the rheostat contact member 33 is secured. A ratchet wheel 44 is secured to the shaft 43 for rotation therewith and a radial arm 45 which is integral with hollow shaft 42 carries a pawl 46 which cooperates with the ratchet teeth of ratchet wheel 44. This pawl is biased in a clockwise direction by means of a spring 41 to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel, and a spring 48 connected to pins on the ratchet wheel 44 and radial arm 45 biases the hollow shaft 42 and arm 45 in a counterclockwise direction. As thus constructed, when the chain 35 is allowed to move upward, the spring 34 rotates shaft 43 carrying ratchet wheel 44, the pawl 46, and rheostat contact member 33 in a counterclockwise direction. A stop 49 is arranged in the path of lever 50 to stop this rotation when the contact member 33 reaches its low speed position. If the chain 35 continues to move upward after the lever 50 strikes the stop, the spring 48 will rotate arm 45 in a counterclockwise direction so that the pawl slides inactively over the teeth of the ratchet wheel as long as the upward motion of chain 35 continues. Conversely, if chain 35 is pulled downward, the pawl 46 rotates the ratchet wheel 44 and contact member 33 in a clockwise direction against the increasing tension of spring 34.

With the foregoing understanding of the elements and their organization in the system, the operation of the system itself will readily be understood from the following detailed description.

. The roving yarn is lead from the roving spool 5| through the usual draft rollers 52, and then through Wire guide eye 53 and the traveler 54 on ring rail I I to the bobbin 55.

When the bobbin is empty and the ring rail is at the bottom, the crank 31 and radial arm 38 and the rheostat contact member 33 will all occupy the positions in which they are illustrated in Fig. 1. This condition is also illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 3. Since the rheostat contact member 33 is in the low speed position, the spinning machine will be driven at low speed at this initial stage of the operation. As the builder cam rotates to allow weight M to raise the ring rail to wind the first layer on the empty bobbin, the radial arm 38 and crank 3'! rotate in a counterclockwise position until the ring rail reaches a point approximately two thirds of the Way up the bobbin which is to mark the beginning of the taper as illustrated in Fig. 4. The ring continues to move upward a slight distance further until it reaches its extreme upward position for empty bobbin, as shown in Fig. 5, and during this final portion of the upward traverse of the ring rail, the radial arm 38 and the crank I ceding layers. As a result, the beginning of a 3'! continue to rotate in a counterclockwise direction from the positions shown in Fig. 4 to the positions shown in Fig. 5.

. IWhile the radial arm 38 is rotating in a counterclockwise direction from its initial position shown in Fig. 3 until it reaches the vertical position, the pin 56s is held against the stop 53 and during the next 180 degrees of rotation of the radial arm 38, the pin 56b is held against the radial arm 38 by the pull of the chain. For the remainder of the clockwise rotation of the radial arm 38 from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the full line position in Fig. 5, the chain pulls the end of the crank arm 31 away from the arm'38 a slight amount but not enough to allow the pawl 43 to pick a tooth on the ratchet wheel. Likewise, for the return clockwise rotation of the radial arm 33, the chain end of the crank arm 31 will occupy the same positions. Consequently, during the entire rotation of the crank arm 31 while the ring rail is making its first complete upward and downward traverses, the end of the crank .whichis connected to the chain 35 remains at the center of rotation of arm 33 and thus the rheostat arm is not moved during this stage of the winding and the first layers are therefore wound on the bobbin atslow speed.

Also during the first complete traverse of the ring rail, the pawl 31 advances the ratchet wheel 30 one step and thereby increases the effective length of the chain [6. As a result of the increase of the effective length of the chain, the ring rail does not return to its initial position and consequently, the second layer ends at a point above the bottom of the first layer. This condition is illustrated in Fig. 2 in which line 51 represents the first layer and 58 represents the second layer. Although the lower limit of the ring rail traverse is changed by theincrease in the effecti've length of chain [6, the amplitude of the traverse remains substantially constant since the length of the lever arm between the pivot 2! and the point of attachment of chain I6 to the builder lever 20 remains constant. Therefore the upper limit of the next upward ring rail traverse will rise above the upper limit of the first upward traverse so that the upper portion of the third layer will overlap the upper.portion of the pretaper will be formed at the lower end of the bobbin by the continuous change in an upward direction of the lower limit of the relative oscillations of the ring rail and spindle, and similarly, the beginning of a taper will be wound at the top of the bobbin by the continuous change of the top limit of the relative oscillation in an upward direction so. that the top of each layer rises higher than the top of the preceding layers and therefore overlaps the tops of the preceding layers as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2.

As the layers succeeding the first few are wound, the reciprocation .of the wave shaft I5 progresses owing to the operation of the builder mechanism, although the amplitude of the reciprocation remains substantially constant as explained in the foregoing. Consequently the limits of the oscillation of the radial arm 38 and crank 37 progress correspondingly with the amplitude of this oscillation remaining constant until atthe top of a ring rail traverse both the rail arm 38 and crank 31 attain positions such as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, with the chain 35 pulling the end of the crank 31 away from stop 56b. In

'the dotted position, the distance between the end of the crank arm.3l and the drum 36 is shorter than the corresponding distance in the full line position. The shortening of this distance permits the spring 48 to rotate the drum 3B, arm 45, and pawl 46 in a counterclockwise direction one tooth on the ratchet wheel 44. When the downward movement of .the ring rail and the clockwise rotation of the crank 31 begin, the crank is pulled toward its full line position in Fig. 5 and as a result, the chain rotates the drum 36, pawl 46, ratchet wheel 44 and rheostat contact member 33 in a clockwise direction against the tensionof spring 34 a distance corresponding to one tooth on the ratchet wheel. The movement of the contact member 33 in a clockwise direction short cir cuits a portion of the secondary resistors 32a, 32b, 32c and increases the speed of the driving motor 23.

When the crank 3'! has returned to the full line position shown in Fig. 5, the ring rail will be in such a position that the part of the layer being wound on the taper is completed. During the remainder of the downward movement of the ring rail and the clockwise rotation of the crank 31, the end of the crank is held at the center of rotation by the pull of the chain so that the distance between the end of the crank and the drum 3-5 remains constant. Consequently the speed of the motor remains constant at the increased value during the remainder of the downward traverse of the ring rail so that the level part of the bobbin is wound at this increased speed.

Similarly, the level part of the bobbin on the following upward traverse of the ring rail is wound at this increased speed. However, when the ring rail reaches the position at the beginning of the upper taper, the crank 31 will again be at approximately the full line position of Fig. 5. As the ring rail continues upward toward its new limit, the crank 31 is again pulled away from the stop 56, shortening the distance from the crank to the drum 36 and allowing spring 34 to return the contact member 33 to its slow speed position as the ring rail approaches the new top limit position in which the end of the taper is wound on bare bobbin.

The foregoing operation is repeated as pro gression of the ring continues during the winding of the bobbin. When the bobbin isapprox-q imately one quarter full, the limits of ring rail traverse and limits of rotation of the radial arm 38 and crank arm 31 are approximately as indicated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. In Fig. 6 the ring rail is at the lower limit of its travel which it will be noted is higher than the lower limit position in Fig. 3. Also, the rheostat contact member 33 is in a higher speed position than in Fig. 1. In Fig. '1 the ring rail is at the beginning of the upper taper, and the contact member 33 is still in the higher speed position, while in Fig. 8 the ring rail has reached the new top limit and the end of the taper is being wound at bare bobbin. As shown, the radial arm 38 and crank arm 31 have also progressed to new positions which are further advanced in the counterclockwise direction than the positions of the corresponding elements when the ring rail was at its upper limit at empty bobbin as shown in Fig. 5. This allows the contact member to return completely to low speed position as indicated in Fig. 8, and also allows the ratchet mechanism to pick another tooth on ratchet wheel 44 so that during the next downward traverses of the ring rail the contactmember 33 will be advanced to a still higher speed position and the spinning machine driven at a new and increased high speed on the level portions of the next layers,

When the bobbin is half full, the lower and upper limits of ring rail traverse have progressed upwardly to new limits which, as shown in Figs. '9, 10 and 11, are higher than the limits for quarter full bobbin shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. Likewise, the limiting positions of the radial arm 38 and crank arm 31 have progressed in a counterclockwise direction so that the ratchet has picked more teeth and the contact member 33 has been moved to a still higher speed position for winding the level portion of the bobbin at a still higher speed in accordance with the increased bobbin diameter.

, At full bobbin the limits of ring rail traverse have progressed to their highest positions and likewise, the limits of radial arm 38 and crank arm 31 have progressed to their most advanced positions. As a result, the distance between the crank arm and the drum attains its minimum value at the top end of the taper, thereby allowing the ratchet to pick still more teeth so that on the level portions of the final layers, the contact arm. 33 is moved to its maximum speed position and the machine is operated at maximum speed.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that as the winding progresses from empty bobbin to full bobbin, the limits of movement of wave shaft are progressively changed and the limits of ring rail movement are progressively raised with the amplitudes of these movements remaining constant. At empty bobbin when winding the first few layers, the oscillation of the radial arm 38 and crank arm 31 is within such a zone that the distance between crank 31 and drum 33 remains constant throughout the oscillation and consequently, the rheostat contact member 33 remains on its low speed position and the machine is operated at low speed. As the spinning progresses, the limits of oscillation of radial arm 38 and crank arm 31 also progress so that when the ring rail approaches the end of the taper, the end of crank arm 31 moves to a position to shorten the distance between it and the drum 36 to allow the ratchet 46 to pick a tooth on wheel 44 so that on the next downward traverse of the ring rail, the crank in returning through the zone through which it had progressed will move the rheostat contact arm to a higher speed position. During the remainder of the return movement of the crank which accompanies the downward movement of the ring rail, the chain end of crank 31 will remain in the center position against stop 56 and the motor will drive the machine at an increased speed. Similarly, on the next upward traverse of the ring rail and corresponding counterclockwise rotation of crank 31, the end of crank 31 will remain in the center position against stop 53 until the ring rail reaches the beginning of the taper. At this point the end of the crank moves away from its center position to'allow spring 34 to return contact arm 33 to low speed position. On succeeding traverses this operation is repeated. Thus as the spinning progresses the speed of the drive motor is increased in winding the taper from a low speed at bare bobbin to a higher speed at the beginning of the level portion which is proportional to diameter. The level portion is wound at this higher speed on both the downward and upward traverses of the ring rail and the speed is automatically reduced again to low speed at the top end of the upper taper. This cycle continues until the bobbin is filled.

Provision is made on the mechanism which operates the rheostat to return the mechanism to the starting position when the rail is lowered for dofling the bobbins. To dofi the bobbins, the ring rail is depressed below the empty bobbin lower limit. As a result, the crank arm 31 is rotated in a clockwise direction past its initial position so that the pin 59 on the crank arm 31 engages the chain and bows it, thereby pulling the drum 36 in a clockwise direction past its normal limit until the upper hooked end of the pawl 46 strikes the stop pin 63 to disengage the pawl from the teeth of the ratchet Wheel and allow springs 48 to reset the ratchet wheel to initial position and spring 34 to reset the rheostat contact member 33 to low speed position.

Although in accordance with the provisions of the Patent Statutes, this invention is described as embodied in concrete form and the principle thereof has been described together with the best mode in which it is now contemplated applying that principle, it will be understood that the apparatus shown and described is merely illustrative and that the invention is not limited thereto, since alterations and modifications will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit of this invention or from the scope of the annexed claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the Un ted States, is:

1. A control system for a ring spinning machine having an electric driving motor mounted at one end of the machine, a member extending longitudinally of the machine and connected to effect relative movement of the ring rail and spindle of said machine, a builder mechanism mounted at the opposite end of said machine for reciprocating said member to effect relative oscillatory movement of said ring rail and spindle of constant amplitude between progressively varying limits, a control device mounted at said one end of said machine for varying the speed of said motor, and connections between said reciprocating member and said control device for actuating said control device to vary the speed of said motor.

2. A control system for a ring spinning ma.

chine having an electric driving motor at one end of the machine, a member extending longitudinally of the machine mounted for reciprocatin movement and connected to effect relative oscillatory movement of the ring rail and spindle. a builder mechanism at the opposite end of the machine for reciprocating said member at constant amplitude between progressively varying limits of travel, a speed control device for said motor mounted at said one end of said machine with said motor, and means responsive to reciprocation of said member for actuating said control device to vary the speed of said motor between a fixed low speed and a higher speed and to progressively increase said higher speed in accordance with the progression of the limits of movement of said member.

3. A control system for a ring spinning machine comprising an electric driving motor at one end of the machine, a member extending lengthwise of the machine for eiiecting relative oscillation of the ring rail and spindle, a builder mechanism at the opposite end of the frame for reciprocating said member between progressively changing limits of travel, a rheostat mounted at said one end of said machine for controlling the speed of said motor, and means for varying said rheostat to vary the speed of said motor in accordance with the progressively increasing diameter of the bobbin comprising mechanical connections between said member at the foot end of said machine and said rheostat including a linkage mechanism and a ratcheting device operatively associated therewith.

l. A control system for a ring spinning machine comprising an electric driving motor at one end of the machine, a member extending lengthwise of the machine mounted for reciprocating movement for effecting relative oscillation of the ring rail and spindle, a builder mechanism at the opposite end of the machine for reciprocating said member with constant amplitude and progressively changing limits, a rheostat mounted at said one end of said machine for controlling the speed of said motor, and means for varying said rheostat to vary the speed of said motor cyclically between a fixed minimum speed and a higher speed increasing progressively with the progressively increasing diameter of the bobbin comprising mechanical connections between said reciprocable member and said rheostat including a linkage mechanism and a ratcheting device operatively associated therewith.

5. A control system for a ring spinning machine comprising an electric driving motor at one end of the frame, a member extending lengthwise of the machine and mounted for reciprocating movement and connected to effect relative oscillation of the ring rail and spindle, a builder mechanism at the opposite end of the machine for reciprocating said member with fixed amplitude between progressively changing limits thereby progressively to change the limits of said oscillation so that a taper is formed at one end of the bobbin by the receding limit of oscillation and a layer wound taper is formed at the other end of the bobbin by the advancing limit of said oscillation, a speed varying rheostat for said motor mounted at said .one end of said machine with said motor, and mechanical connections including a linkage mechanism between said member and said rheostat for varying said rheostat to vary the speed of said motor during the winding of said layer wound taper between a fixed low speed and a higher speed and a ratchet device included in said connections for progressively increasing said higher speed in accordance with the progressively increasing diameter of the bobbins.

6. A control system for a rin spinning machine comprising an electric driving motor mounted at one end of the machine, a rod extending longitudinally of the machine and mounted for reciprocating movement and connected to raise and lower the ring rail, a builder mechanism mounted at the opposite end of said machine for reciprocating said rod to reciprocate said ring rail with fixed amplitude between progressively changing units, a rheostat mounted at said one end of said machine with said motor for varying the speed of said motor, means biasing said rheostat to the low speed position, and mechanical connections including a linkage mechanism between said reciprocating rod and said rheostat for varying said rheostat to decrease the speed of said motor to a minimum value as said ring rail approaches one of its limits of movement and to increase the speed of said motor to a high speed as the ring rail reverses and moves away ,from said one limit, a ratchet device included in said connections for progressively increasing said high speed in accordance with said progressive advance of the limits of movement of said ring rail, means, for moving the ring rail beyond one of its said operating limits to provide dofiing operation, and means responsive to said doflingoperation for resetting said ratchet de vice.

'7. A control system for a ring spinning machine having an electric driving motor mounted at one end of the machine, a member extending longitudinally of the machine mounted for reciprocating movement and connected to move the ring rail, a builder mechanism mounted at the opposite end of the machine for reciprocating said member to reciprocate said ring rail with constant amplitude and progressively rising lower and upper limits of travel, a speed controlling rheostat for said motor mounted at said one end of said machine with said motor, and means responsive to reciprocation of said member for varying said rheostat to vary the speed of said motor between a minimum speed and a higher speed, and progressively to increase said higher speed with the said upward progression of the limits of travel of said ring rail.

JOHN EATON. 

